Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 18, 2010 at 1:19 AM
Iron minerals create a miniature "mountainscape" in a slab of sandstone.
A recent geological paper claimed that iron-oxidizing microbes were the cause of these intricate patterns, which cut across the sandstone bedding. The microbes colonized the interface between siderite-cemented sand and porous sandstone. Oxidation of iron along this interface produced acid that caused dissolution of siderite and the redistribution of the iron minerals.
This sandstone was quarried from the Shinarump Member of the Chinle Formation, Upper Triassic (~220 mya). It's a family operation in the vicinity of Kanab, Utah. There is a big rock shop on the main drag trough Kanab that has an extensive collection of this "Wonderstone" for sale. I just love browsing there to see all the variations.
Bill, I've got no idea what most of those words mean but it sure is a pretty picture!
Posted by Stan Rose on February 18, 2010 at 7:35 AM
Makes perfect sense to me, course i just had a margarita 'on the rocks' so maybe im in a geologic frame of mind I like the patterns here Bill--cool how it gives you no sense of scale, as you mention, could be the surface of Mars (sans the microbes )
Posted by Paul Wegemann on February 18, 2010 at 8:03 AM
I think every photo posted should have this type of in-depth explanation
Very cool, Bill.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on February 18, 2010 at 9:16 AM
That is a beautiful slab of sandstone, nicely composed and lit Bill.
Mel-
Posted by Morris McClung on February 18, 2010 at 9:53 AM
Yeah, the little thingies rusted and then they said to the iron get outa here to over there. I'm having second thoughts to having breakfast with you on my next trip to the Flatirons because I typically like to understand the people I eat with.
The photo is just incredibly cool, and thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Posted by Stephen Weaver on February 18, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Oh yea! lets hear it for diagenesis! Better living through geochemistry
Posted by bill meikle on February 18, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Bill, I think you need a tiny toy pine tree in the bottom left corner!
Posted by Erik Stensland on February 18, 2010 at 10:33 AM
I love it Bill! I could look at this for a very long time!
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 18, 2010 at 11:14 AM
Bill, you are right, I need to include a tree for scale.
Morris, thanks for simplifying the explaination.
I should have just said, "Bugs paint pretty pictures by leaving rust stains on old sandstone."
I love having so many fellow geologists on here! Even though I am a little bit out of the geology world in my consulting field I get to visit here and get back to my roots.
Wonderful image Bill and I loved Morris' abstract of the topic
Posted by Jack Brauer on February 18, 2010 at 4:39 PM
Beautiful!
Posted by Jeff Hackett on February 18, 2010 at 9:08 PM
Very interesting image, love the patterns! I did need a dictionary to get through the explanation though, then Morris set me straight.
Posted by Steven Peckham on February 18, 2010 at 10:49 PM
Really nice image Bill. Really like the use of color and lines in this one. Had no idea what those dark lines were until Morris explained it in such clear technical terms. Thanks professor McClung.
Discussion
18 repliesA recent geological paper claimed that iron-oxidizing microbes were the cause of these intricate patterns, which cut across the sandstone bedding. The microbes colonized the interface between siderite-cemented sand and porous sandstone. Oxidation of iron along this interface produced acid that caused dissolution of siderite and the redistribution of the iron minerals.
This sandstone was quarried from the Shinarump Member of the Chinle Formation, Upper Triassic (~220 mya). It's a family operation in the vicinity of Kanab, Utah. There is a big rock shop on the main drag trough Kanab that has an extensive collection of this "Wonderstone" for sale. I just love browsing there to see all the variations.
Here's the full 3 image stitch of this 6"x14" slab:
http://pelzmann.smugmug.com/Portfolio/2010-New-Additions/10943845_QPhhQ#790974767_wPcHH-O-LB
Very cool, Bill.
Mel-
The photo is just incredibly cool, and thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Morris, thanks for simplifying the explaination.
I should have just said, "Bugs paint pretty pictures by leaving rust stains on old sandstone."
For the few that might be interested in more details, here's the recent Geological Society of America abstract:
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2009AM/finalprogram/abstract_161924.htm
Wonderful image Bill and I loved Morris' abstract of the topic
Really nice image Bill. Really like the use of color and lines in this one. Had no idea what those dark lines were until Morris explained it in such clear technical terms. Thanks professor McClung.
A gorgeous abstract! Great job (again), Bill.